What is NCL doing now if you test positive for covid-19 on board?

[Turtles06]

For so many months here on CC after the re-start, across all cruise lines, there was almost constant discussion of how a particular cruise line or ship was handling the situation when a guest tested positive for covid-19 on board.  Were guests being moved into an isolation cabin?  What type of cabin? Could they remain in their own cabin?  How were they being treated, were they getting food timely, was someone from medical checking on them every day, etc.

 

As we get ready to sail on the Gem later this month, it struck me that I haven't read any recent reports about what NCL is doing now if you test positive on board.  Are you allowed to remain in your own cabin?  Etc.  Anyone have any recent information?  

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[cementhands]

2 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

For so many months here on CC after the re-start, across all cruise lines, there was almost constant discussion of how a particular cruise line or ship was handling the situation when a guest tested positive for covid-19 on board.  Were guests being moved into an isolation cabin?  What type of cabin? Could they remain in their own cabin?  How were they being treated, were they getting food timely, was someone from medical checking on them every day, etc.

 

As we get ready to sail on the Gem later this month, it struck me that I haven't read any recent reports about what NCL is doing now if you test positive on board.  Are you allowed to remain in your own cabin?  Etc.  Anyone have any recent information?  

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

Not sure but we both got covid19 after a cruise on RCL adventure May 2022. 9 nights and onboard I heard 150 or so were quarantine.  
 Cruise industry is hurting so no news about it!  Seems like folks on Facebook and CC might share information but get bashed on doing so. My wife fully recovered but I’m a long hauler with inhaler and nasal spray and seeing doctors in long covid19 program about every 6 months. Some reports are that men fighting the infection suffering long just like the Spanish flu in 1918! History repeats itself!

[Turtles06]

1 minute ago, Maryscooking said:

 

If you are symptomatic (which would be the only reason I'd imagine you'd take a test during the cruise), and then test positive, it is in no way irresponsible to go get the anti-viral drugs. Not when they ships are telling guests that they are "readily available."

 

Thank you, and of course it's not irresponsible.  To the contrary, for some folks, Paxlovid, taken within the first five days of symptoms, would prevent a very serious case of covid.  That's a critical reason for seeking medical attention for symptomatic covid.

 

The unanswered question remains:  is NCL sending folks who test positive to isolation cabins, or allowing them to remain in their own cabins?

[LGinPA]

16 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

The unanswered question remains:  is NCL sending folks who test positive to isolation cabins, or allowing them to remain in their own cabins?

 

Bump. I would also like to know this. 

[phoenix1181]

Based on me calling room service while on the Bliss is December '22 and initially being mistaken for a quarantine cabin, it appears NCL is quarantining in your assigned cabin, not moving you.

 

I was in a club balcony & when the phone was answered, the immediate response was "You are a quarantine cabin".  When I stated I was not, there was a moment of hesitation and then an apology for confusing my cabin number.  Obviously, there is no room service charge for those who are quarantined so room service is fully aware of what cabins should not be charged.  

 

[littlelulu01]

Not sure how current but we tested positive in October and were allowed to stay in our stateroom. Prima b2b with the TA. Husband tested positive on turnaround day. We were in the Haven. We were scheduled to move to a bigger room within the Haven for 2nd leg. After he tested positive they put him in a balcony room. When the new room was ready they gave us the option of him isolating in an inside stateroom or the separate bedroom of our new room.  I’d already been exposed and figured I was going to catch it anyway so we just separated till I tested positive the next day. I was really surprised they didn’t kick us off the ship in Southampton. Immigration came to us when we got settled in the room. We were taken care, of free of charge, by the ship’s doctor and medical staff.  Medicine like cold/flu pills were free. They offered us plaxovid for several hundred dollars but our symptoms were mild so we decided against taking that. We tested negative pretty quick.  Crew checked our temperatures daily and tested us when we were eligible . Husband was let out of isolation after two days of negative tests in Reykjavik and I was freed a day or so later. They had us wear high quality masks till I think day 10.  It was our first bout of COVID and I gotta say it wasn’t too bad.  Helped that we had food delivered, a hot tub on our balcony and separate living room. I did the cleaning… till we were both cleared from isolation. I’ve never been so thankful in my life for splurging on the stateroom. It was more $ than I’d ever spent on a vacation but once we got sick the stateroom was our isolation quarters for many days. We used the hot tub several times a day, had a crazy amount of space on balcony and separate living room. 

[cementhands]

2 minutes ago, littlelulu01 said:

Not sure how current but we tested positive in October and were allowed to stay in our stateroom. Prima b2b with the TA. Husband tested positive on turnaround day. We were in the Haven. We were scheduled to move to a bigger room within the Haven for 2nd leg. After he tested positive they put him in a balcony room. When the new room was ready they gave us the option of him isolating in an inside stateroom or the separate bedroom of our new room.  I’d already been exposed and figured I was going to catch it anyway so we just separated till I tested positive the next day. I was really surprised they didn’t kick us off the ship in Southampton. Immigration came to us when we got settled in the room. We were taken care, of free of charge, by the ship’s doctor and medical staff.  Medicine like cold/flu pills were free. They offered us plaxovid for several hundred dollars but our symptoms were mild so we decided against taking that. We tested negative pretty quick.  Crew checked our temperatures daily and tested us when we were eligible . Husband was let out of isolation after two days of negative tests in Reykjavik and I was freed a day or so later. They had us wear high quality masks till I think day 10.  It was our first bout of COVID and I gotta say it wasn’t too bad.  Helped that we had food delivered, a hot tub on our balcony and separate living room. I did the cleaning… till we were both cleared from isolation. I’ve never been so thankful in my life for splurging on the stateroom. It was more $ than I’d ever spent on a vacation but once we got sick the stateroom was our isolation quarters for many days. We used the hot tub several times a day, had a crazy amount of space on balcony and separate living room. 

Sorry for your covid19 situation but many thanks for information.  One of my doctors said I probably should not have been given paxlovid as I was a healthy active male over 65. My wife a cancer survivor took paxlovid and recovered. I’m still suffering and have inhaler and nasal spray. In a long covid19 program too! Double vaccinated and double boosted and even the 5 th phizer. Going back on cruise 🚢 soon fingers crossed 🤞 

[LGinPA]

23 minutes ago, littlelulu01 said:

Not sure how current but we tested positive in October and were allowed to stay in our stateroom. Prima b2b with the TA. Husband tested positive on turnaround day. We were in the Haven. We were scheduled to move to a bigger room within the Haven for 2nd leg. After he tested positive they put him in a balcony room. When the new room was ready they gave us the option of him isolating in an inside stateroom or the separate bedroom of our new room.  I’d already been exposed and figured I was going to catch it anyway so we just separated till I tested positive the next day. I was really surprised they didn’t kick us off the ship in Southampton. Immigration came to us when we got settled in the room. We were taken care, of free of charge, by the ship’s doctor and medical staff.  Medicine like cold/flu pills were free. They offered us plaxovid for several hundred dollars but our symptoms were mild so we decided against taking that. We tested negative pretty quick.  Crew checked our temperatures daily and tested us when we were eligible . Husband was let out of isolation after two days of negative tests in Reykjavik and I was freed a day or so later. They had us wear high quality masks till I think day 10.  It was our first bout of COVID and I gotta say it wasn’t too bad.  Helped that we had food delivered, a hot tub on our balcony and separate living room. I did the cleaning… till we were both cleared from isolation. I’ve never been so thankful in my life for splurging on the stateroom. It was more $ than I’d ever spent on a vacation but once we got sick the stateroom was our isolation quarters for many days. We used the hot tub several times a day, had a crazy amount of space on balcony and separate living room. 

 

Thanks, this is useful.

 

Another question about testing positive, initially.  Did you use a test kit you brought with you to determine you were positive, or go to the infirmary to be tested? 

Edited January 14, 2023 by LGinPA

[Turtles06]

23 minutes ago, littlelulu01 said:

Not sure how current but we tested positive in October and were allowed to stay in our stateroom. Prima b2b with the TA. . .. 

 

Thank you so much for your post and the detailed info you provided.  I'm sorry you both got covid, but glad it wasn't serious and you are both okay!

 

Your info is exactly the type of info I was seeking when I started this thread, so thank you again for taking the time to share it.

 

Stay well, and happy travels!

 

 

[AwesomO]

thanks to those who shared! I too was wondering if they were still moving people. seemed they couldn't reserve a whole or half deck of empty rooms forever for "just incase" for moving COVID folks. Glad we can quarantine in our own rooms, if it comes to that. 

[jcscv]

I tested positive midway through my cruise back in October (yes, I brought my own kit).  I had an inside room and was moved down to the isolation area (there were 2 other people in rooms down there). For me it was an upgrade, to an ocean view and much bigger room.  I'm guessing it depends on what type of room you're in if they move you or not. I will say, they did take care of me and did what they could to make me comfortable. 

 

[Sailing12Away]

In September, I felt like I was coming down with a bad cold. A friend traveling felt the same, asked the ship to test him for Covid just to be safe - he was negative. The next day my cold didn't improve, so I asked to be tested. I came up positive right away on the rapid antigen test. That was the end of my vacation. We only had 3 days left in our trip, so I was quarantined to my cabin for the rest of the time. My hubby was either allowed to stay with me and be in lockdown too, or he could choose to move to a different cabin by himself so he wouldn't be on lockdown.

We were in a HH Haven family suite on the Joy, so obviously there was nothing comparable to move him to. The best they could do was a balcony room a few cabins down on the same deck. He abandoned me and got to live it up for those last 3 days by himself (although I had the better room). I was resigned to my cabin with 2x/day temperature checks and getting meals dropped off at the door. 

 

The thing I didn't like, was that they didn't force him to get tested when I turned positive. Which means they didn't force anyone else to get tested. At the time he had no symptoms, but by the time we got home he was starting to show some and tested positive with a home kit. Our cruise ended in NY where we live, so not sure what would have happened for those last 2 quarantine days if we needed to fly home somewhere.

 

Even though he moved to a regular room, he kept his Haven privilege's. But even though I had the drink package and couldn't leave my room, I still wasn't allowed to ask for liquor or cans of soda to be brought to my room with my meals. They were going to charge me I think $4/can of Sprite. Plus they didn't tell me I could use my last dining credit until the last day of the trip - previously they told me I had to order from either the room service menu (very limited) or the main dining room menu - which I didn't have a copy of. So either you sit there listening to someone read all the choices off to you, or you wing it and just get one of the classic dishes that you know will be there.

 

For us, biggest lesson learned is to wear masks on bus tours because I'm 100% convinced I caught it from the man behind me who was coughing and sneezing his brains out on our Titanic excursion. And to self-test in your room and not be stupid. If you have symptoms, stay in your room regardless of what the test says. If someone looks like they have cooties, I have no quams about shaming them and telling them to stay the eff away from me and to go back to their room.

 

There were officially 10 of us who got escorted in bunny suits off the ship at the end of the journey, but I know for a fact there were many many more who just didn't formally get tested. It spreads quick, so keep wearing a mask if you're immunocompromised or don't want cooties. I was grateful to have the giant Haven room, but I essentially lost all perks and benefits that come with Haven once I tested positive. The cabin steward called me every day to see if I needed anything, but no one was allowed in my room at all.

[littlelulu01]

26 minutes ago, LGinPA said:

 

Thanks, this is useful.

 

Another question about testing positive, initially.  Did you use a test kit you brought with you to determine you were positive, or go to the infirmary to be tested? 

We were the last sailing with mandatory testing.  We spent a week in Finland and Copenhagen prior to boarding the Prima so brought with us the emed proctored kits. I had a 6 pack just in case. We had tested negative for first leg and had those results loaded in the system.  I was able to complete my proctoring prior to losing fast internet in Bruges but we didn’t get husband’s done in time when leaving port. On turnaround day husband woke up with symptoms. Never having covid previously and knowing we were about to have several sea days where we might not be able to get off the ship I was not sure what to do. In the end it all worked out and we made the right choice (for us anyway) by staying on the ship. I tested him and the ship retested to confirm results.  Same thing when I contracted. 

[littlelulu01]

13 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

In September, I felt like I was coming down with a bad cold. A friend traveling felt the same, asked the ship to test him for Covid just to be safe - he was negative. The next day my cold didn't improve, so I asked to be tested. I came up positive right away on the rapid antigen test. That was the end of my vacation. We only had 3 days left in our trip, so I was quarantined to my cabin for the rest of the time. My hubby was either allowed to stay with me and be in lockdown too, or he could choose to move to a different cabin by himself so he wouldn't be on lockdown.

We were in a HH Haven family suite on the Joy, so obviously there was nothing comparable to move him to. The best they could do was a balcony room a few cabins down on the same deck. He abandoned me and got to live it up for those last 3 days by himself (although I had the better room). I was resigned to my cabin with 2x/day temperature checks and getting meals dropped off at the door. 

 

The thing I didn't like, was that they didn't force him to get tested when I turned positive. Which means they didn't force anyone else to get tested. At the time he had no symptoms, but by the time we got home he was starting to show some and tested positive with a home kit. Our cruise ended in NY where we live, so not sure what would have happened for those last 2 quarantine days if we needed to fly home somewhere.

 

Even though he moved to a regular room, he kept his Haven privilege's. But even though I had the drink package and couldn't leave my room, I still wasn't allowed to ask for liquor or cans of soda to be brought to my room with my meals. They were going to charge me I think $4/can of Sprite. Plus they didn't tell me I could use my last dining credit until the last day of the trip - previously they told me I had to order from either the room service menu (very limited) or the main dining room menu - which I didn't have a copy of. So either you sit there listening to someone read all the choices off to you, or you wing it and just get one of the classic dishes that you know will be there.

 

For us, biggest lesson learned is to wear masks on bus tours because I'm 100% convinced I caught it from the man behind me who was coughing and sneezing his brains out on our Titanic excursion. And to self-test in your room and not be stupid. If you have symptoms, stay in your room regardless of what the test says. If someone looks like they have cooties, I have no quams about shaming them and telling them to stay the eff away from me and to go back to their room.

 

There were officially 10 of us who got escorted in bunny suits off the ship at the end of the journey, but I know for a fact there were many many more who just didn't formally get tested. It spreads quick, so keep wearing a mask if you're immunocompromised or don't want cooties. I was grateful to have the giant Haven room, but I essentially lost all perks and benefits that come with Haven once I tested positive. The cabin steward called me every day to see if I needed anything, but no one was allowed in my room at all.

Since I had no symptoms, I was told to wear high quality mask when outside my cabin,  isolate self immediately and report any symptoms if noted,  and was to be tested 5 days after exposure if no symptoms prior (They gave us KN95’s but I had my own supply of fit tested so used my own.)  I think we were not made to separate because our stateroom was essentially set up so that we could easily be fully isolated from each other. 
 

regarding the food, we were able to get canned sodas, pelligrino, Starbucks nespresso pods… I had butler get me all hooked up prior to me testing positive and so I was able to work the machine/clean myself… 

 

We were initially ordering specialty menu items and using our credits but they had some miscommunications with that.  When I switched over to the COVID call center the food and food service was much better.  Delivery was timely and not awkward.  Crew knew how to get us the meals and pick up the dirty dishes. 

[FLAHAM]

Is Paxlovid available for those who contract Covid-19 during a cruise?

[mi-oh-tx]

We were on the NCL cruise from 4/22- 5/2, from San Diego to Vancouver.  They were testing everyone onboard on May 1 and my husband turned up positive.  After the 2nd test they called me and said I had the choice of having my husband go in quarantine by himself or I could join him.  I said we were a package deal, so I would join him.  They told me I had to pack everything up and they would move us.  After I had finished packing up, they changed their minds and said we could stay in our balcony room since we were disembarking the next day.

 

They told us that we could stay in quarantine in a hotel in Canada for 10 days or rent a car and drive over the border to Seattle and quarantine for 5 days.  They told us fees would be reimbursed.  We had to make all reservations over the phone.  Everyone disembarked and then the 4 people  that tested positive and their companions were allowed to disembark. We dropped off the people staying at different hotels in Vancouver and then we picked up a rental car and drove to the Seattle hotel they recommended.  The room was nice, but their was no room service so we had to do door dash,  etc. A doctor from NCL contacted us daily.

 

We contacted our travel insurance co. and they paid us $500 the maximum allowable.  Then we contacted NCL Guest Experience to file our claim.  It has been very difficult to deal with them.  Communication is only by email. You can't talk to anyone. The explanations for reimbursement and overpayments were unclear. It's been 8 months and it has not been resolved to our satisfaction.  If anyone knows how to actually talk to a person, please let us know.

 

[KyleClark]

If you test positive are they contact tracing?   

 

[uneamie]

5 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

In September, I felt like I was coming down with a bad cold. A friend traveling felt the same, asked the ship to test him for Covid just to be safe - he was negative. The next day my cold didn't improve, so I asked to be tested. I came up positive right away on the rapid antigen test. That was the end of my vacation. We only had 3 days left in our trip, so I was quarantined to my cabin for the rest of the time. My hubby was either allowed to stay with me and be in lockdown too, or he could choose to move to a different cabin by himself so he wouldn't be on lockdown.

We were in a HH Haven family suite on the Joy, so obviously there was nothing comparable to move him to. The best they could do was a balcony room a few cabins down on the same deck. He abandoned me and got to live it up for those last 3 days by himself (although I had the better room). I was resigned to my cabin with 2x/day temperature checks and getting meals dropped off at the door. 

 

The thing I didn't like, was that they didn't force him to get tested when I turned positive. Which means they didn't force anyone else to get tested. At the time he had no symptoms, but by the time we got home he was starting to show some and tested positive with a home kit. Our cruise ended in NY where we live, so not sure what would have happened for those last 2 quarantine days if we needed to fly home somewhere.

 

Even though he moved to a regular room, he kept his Haven privilege's. But even though I had the drink package and couldn't leave my room, I still wasn't allowed to ask for liquor or cans of soda to be brought to my room with my meals. They were going to charge me I think $4/can of Sprite. Plus they didn't tell me I could use my last dining credit until the last day of the trip - previously they told me I had to order from either the room service menu (very limited) or the main dining room menu - which I didn't have a copy of. So either you sit there listening to someone read all the choices off to you, or you wing it and just get one of the classic dishes that you know will be there.

 

For us, biggest lesson learned is to wear masks on bus tours because I'm 100% convinced I caught it from the man behind me who was coughing and sneezing his brains out on our Titanic excursion. And to self-test in your room and not be stupid. If you have symptoms, stay in your room regardless of what the test says. If someone looks like they have cooties, I have no quams about shaming them and telling them to stay the eff away from me and to go back to their room.

 

There were officially 10 of us who got escorted in bunny suits off the ship at the end of the journey, but I know for a fact there were many many more who just didn't formally get tested. It spreads quick, so keep wearing a mask if you're immunocompromised or don't want cooties. I was grateful to have the giant Haven room, but I essentially lost all perks and benefits that come with Haven once I tested positive. The cabin steward called me every day to see if I needed anything, but no one was allowed in my room at all.

So sorry for your experience. What a shame after spending all that money for the Haven. That said, I have a chronic cough due to my blood pressure pills. It's not all the time but sometimes it can be for 5 to 10 minutes of dry couphing. When that happens I generally excuse myself and go to the ladies room if I am in the public but I often feel unconfortable because I know people are looking at me thinking the same as you.....that I have cooties and why am I out in public. ugh It's a cough that I cannot control. 

[phoenix1181]

4 minutes ago, uneamie said:

So sorry for your experience. What a shame after spending all that money for the Haven. That said, I have a chronic cough due to my blood pressure pills. It's not all the time but sometimes it can be for 5 to 10 minutes of dry couphing. When that happens I generally excuse myself and go to the ladies room if I am in the public but I often feel unconfortable because I know people are looking at me thinking the same as you.....that I have cooties and why am I out in public. ugh It's a cough that I cannot control. 

We must be on the same medication!

 

Sometimes a hard candy helps but I do find myself receiving rude, nasty looks from people as a result.  I try to ignore them and I truly do understand their concern but it's frustrating.  A friend suggested always wearing a mask but, to me, that would give people more of a reason to think I'm actually sick and unwilling to properly quarantine. 

 

[Sailing12Away]

On 1/14/2023 at 2:46 PM, LGinPA said:

 

That's awful.  Do you think it would have worked to have your hubby or friend drop off a drink at your door?

 

Yes, while there's no guarantee a good mask would have prevented it, at least you can know you tried your best.

They could have, we were able to pass other things through to each other that way. I wasn't that hard up for non-watered down Sprite, it was more the principle of it.

 

On 1/14/2023 at 4:15 PM, KyleClark said:

If you test positive are they contact tracing?   

 

For me, no. They said hubby was supposed to test himself on day 5, we tested when we got home and it was already positive. But my parents traveling with us on the trip were never contacted (they were in a different room, so maybe NCL didn't know we were in close contact more times than not), no one from the CDC contacted either of us, and once we were off the ship NCL never contacted me once.

[njhorseman]

1 hour ago, Sailing12Away said:

no one from the CDC contacted either of us

The CDC stopped requiring cruise ships to report COVID cases months ago. They didn't contact you because they didn't know you had COVID.

 

1 hour ago, Sailing12Away said:

once we were off the ship NCL never contacted me once

Why would you expect them to? A few years ago I came down with pneumonia while on an NCL ship. I certainly didn't expect them to contact me after the cruise. What purpose would it have served ? 

Edited January 17, 2023 by njhorseman

[Sailing12Away]

2 hours ago, njhorseman said:

The CDC stopped requiring cruise ships to report COVID cases months ago. They didn't contact you because they didn't know you had COVID.

 

Why would you expect them to? A few years ago I came down with pneumonia while on an NCL ship. I certainly didn't expect them to contact me after the cruise. What purpose would it have served ? 

You're jumping down the wrong person's throat. Someone asked if they were doing contact tracing. I simply shared my experience of "no", they're not doing anything of the sort.

 

While on board we were told we would be contacted by "someone" to make sure hubby got tested on day 5. That didn't happen either.

[Cassicruiser]

Does anyone know - If you test positive and are in an inside cabin, do they move you or expect you to isolate in an inside cabin for however many days?  We would have loved a balcony but our cruise in August is a very expensive cruise, so we booked an inside as an OV or balcony is more than double the price of the inside, and we are usually hardly in the room. I'm a little concerned about potentially having to isolate in an inside cabin if we were to get Covid! 

[Sailing12Away]

6 hours ago, Cassicruiser said:

Does anyone know - If you test positive and are in an inside cabin, do they move you or expect you to isolate in an inside cabin for however many days?  We would have loved a balcony but our cruise in August is a very expensive cruise, so we booked an inside as an OV or balcony is more than double the price of the inside, and we are usually hardly in the room. I'm a little concerned about potentially having to isolate in an inside cabin if we were to get Covid! 

The cruise lines ability to move you to a different cabin relies on the availability of other cabins to move you into. So it's hard to say, as each trip will be different. Even if they block aside 10 OV or balcony cabins that can't be booked to reserve for Covid quarantine - what happens if you're guest #11? You'll have to stay where you are. 

 

It's that level of unknown which prevents us from ever booking a cabin we wouldn't be ok staying in if worst case scenario happens.

[BirdTravels]

On 1/14/2023 at 1:23 PM, FLAHAM said:

Is Paxlovid available for those who contract Covid-19 during a cruise?

 

Onboard medical consultations and standard treatments are provided for COVID-19-related illness at a charge. If a guest follows health and safety protocols and tests positive during their cruise, the Cruise Line will help coordinate necessary onboard COVID-19-related medical consultation, standard/common prescription drugs, and required land-based quarantine.

 

Anti-viral COVID-19 therapeutics are readily available onboard and will be charged to the guests' account.

 

While the Cruise Line will assist with arranging land-based quarantine accommodations if required, payment for all expenses incurred during any mandatory isolation period, including hotel stay, is the responsibility of the guest. We encourage all guests to file a claim with their travel insurance carrier for reimbursement inquiries. Norwegian Cruise Line will review reimbursement submissions in the event your insurance carrier denies the claim or you do not have travel insurance.

Edited January 17, 2023 by BirdTravels